Local students participate in Let's Move program

Tuesday

May 21, 2013 at 12:01 AMMay 21, 2013 at 9:04 PM

As part of a nutrition initiative instituted by Blackstone Valley Tech, students from Milford's Woodland Elementary School and Valley Tech's Culinary and Health Services groups recently participated in the first-ever teleconference to the White House.

Staff reports

As part of a nutrition initiative instituted by Blackstone Valley Tech, students from Milford's Woodland Elementary School and Valley Tech's Culinary and Health Services groups recently participated in the first-ever teleconference to the White House to speak with Sam Kass, executive director of Let's Move! and senior policy advisor on nutrition, who works with First Lady Michelle Obama to help America raise a healthier generation and ensure kids have the opportunity for long, healthy lives.

The Let's Move! program provides nationwide support to offer healthier food in schools, help children to be more physically active, and make healthy, affordable food available in every part of the country. Childhood obesity rates in America have tripled over the past thirty years, primarily due to a change in lifestyles. Parents are busier than ever today and families eat fewer home-cooked meals. Snacking between meals is now commonplace. As a result, one in three children in America experience weight issues. First Lady Michelle Obama believes that this trend needs to be corrected now in order to prevent future generations from suffering from debilitating diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer.

Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, Blackstone Valley Tech works toward enhancing the economic, social, and historic strengths of the region by providing integrated academic and vocational technical skills, empowering students to achieve world-class educational excellence, diverse career opportunities, and individual success in an ever-changing global society all in a safe learning environment. The school's website is www.valleytech.k12.ma.us.

Woodland Elementary School, in Milford, educates students in grades 3 and 4 and provides each child with the opportunity to become an independent, self-directed learner and a positive contributor to a diverse, global society.